Or... maybe not?

Maybe we should returned to Bounty after our fight...

Just an hour's walk after we finally left the Domain and hit the road, and the entirety of my left, darker self was now pulsing in pain; the right humming it's own new aches in turn. It was akin to the throbbing of a worked muscle after a spar with Darrin Hoffman, or my hips after being jump by another of the ceaseless harpies in my party. Contrasting my pulsating pain was the landscape; wide open field of glorious green; graceful wild game prancing out in the open, feasting on the luscious grass, still wet with the crystaline droplets of morning's dew. The early sun lazily peeking from behind vuluptious clouds, who's apperance was kin to that of the finest cotton.

"Ugh..." I groan, stopping in my tracks, and buckling to one knee; not the best thing too do, standing at the back of the group.

Trix spots my trip, fluttering over the others. "Aye bucko, you knackered already?"

I wince, the throbbing now seemingly crunching into my right knee. "Somethings... wrong..."

"Hey, you gaggle of eegits! Biggie's havin' a bad dose!" Shouts the Pixie, resting herself on my head.

The others stop, seeing my weary appearance; Cilla is the first to rush over. "I swear, I understand her even less now..."

Gabbie is second to reach me, Ariel's voice coming from her staff. "Oh man... Maybe try God's Eye again real quick? Check for diseases, internal damage; stuff like that."

I follow his advice, searching for what could be harming me. "Nope... nothing."

"We can't have this, now can we." Says Scott, as he forms his double; using both of his selves to carry me with seeming ease. "Come on now, no wasting daylight while we run through what's wrong with you."

"Is this... more depression strength?" I ask, jokingly.

My friend's face is graced by a small smile. "No, just concern, this time."

We run through more possibilities as I'm carried down the road; painfully trying to swallow the vain pride inherit to the Fae half of my Core. Poisons were thrown out, as Ariel's Angelic Protection would destroy most. No disease that could effect a Dragon could be the culprit; most of those involved an illness of the scales, wing-membrane, or throat, and this was a whole body experience. It's then I mention when the throbbing began...

"When half of my scales turned white... from the Light Infusion..."

Gabriella slows her pace out of sudden shame, only to have Sammy ooze past her. "So... you're too shiny?"

My handler was deep in thought, as Ashes began pulling something from her bag. "Hold on, lemme see something real quick... Zana, come help me with this."

Scales, ones I had shed after my first use of Final Form, were now being compared to my newer scales by our two little Monster-Biologists.

Zana moves her eyes from scale to scale, saying. "Why are the new scales... smaller?"

"Maybe... no, that's way too soon for a Dragon this young... but he is kinda different?" Adds Ashes, drawing unknown conclusions from the comparison of the natural armor.

"What are... you two... talking about?" I groan, the pain now reaching my vocal cords.

The two continue without answering any questions; words that would probably make more sense without the constant shooting pain through my body go straight over my head. Speculations of molting, growth spurts, or mating seasons are abound; with such little information on Shiftlings to work with, all theory is instead focused on my draconic aspect.

"Road-sign up ahead..." Says Scott-Two; the first time I've heard his double speak.

Scott-One finishes his words. "...Bludbag won't be far then, we head to the right from the split, correct?"

"Right." Confirms Cilla, prodding at the Saltmoore Duo. "Have you two figured him out yet? His Domain has nearly all our food, and I doubt he can hold his arms up for a minute like this."

Ashes is now tapping on the scales of my right arm, then my left; Zana listening closely to something afterwards.

"The right side is louder..." Says the Shy Sharpshooter; her prosthetic hand wiping away some of my cold sweat that had dripped onto her.

Ashes rubs her forehead in thoughtful frustration. "Hmm... hmm... Aha!"

With two utterances, small essences of Light and Dark are formed; just like during her talk of Necromancy on the Maiyo's Kiss.

"Monster, as a Light Soul in a body with a Dark Infusion, was at an equilibrium of Light and Dark; just like the power of ****. When he became infused with Light, his body would have suddenly lost that equilibrium! It's like when I used to mess up using Necrotic power at the forge; my muscles and bones would ache for hours, but on the scale of his whole body!" Ashes beams with satisfaction at her answer, before suddenly coming to another realization. "Oh... so his body is essentially... hm... hey, Monster. Are you feeling... explodey? You know, like Trix explodey?"

"No..." Is all I can manage; fear not registering beyond the frustration that each jolt of pain gives me. "...please be joking."

I'm dragged yet more down the road; off in the far distance, the gates of a civilization can be seen. High rising, walls of interwoven tree trunks; like a cross-stitch of living lumber. The "gates" seemed to be two gigantic stone slabs, simply lain on the earth in a gap between the criss-cross of the ever-rising trees.

"Ah, Bludbag. I hope it's not as horrible as I've been told." Says Ariel, sighing wistfully from his Alm; then sounding both concerned, and slightly disgusted. "Hey, Monster? You uh... dropped something."

A tooth had fallen from my hanging jaw, and another; and another. Scales, too, began to pluck themselves from my body, casting themselves to the earth. I felt a tickle across my back, as my head felt the brush of the wind ever more clearly; my hair was falling out. The claw from my right index slowly slogged off, as though I were melting... prehaps I was. I begin feeling more, and more tired. Sluggish... Groggy...

"What is with this man and nearly dying!..." "...This is his fourth time since I've known him!" Yell the Scotts, picking up speed; sprinting for the far off gates.

My eyes slowly shut... I feel so... sleepy...

Nothingness. No dream. No vision. Just the pitch black...

I suddenly feel... an urge. I press against the nothing, and cracks form against it. I push harder, and gasp in air as light peers through the cracks. I trip, some gunky mess slipping me forward as I break from this strange cage I had found myself in. The dirt road feels almost the same as it had when I fell earlier; slightly damp from morning dew. I rise to my full height.

"Well that was fast! Only took you a few hours." Says the voice of Ariel. "Uh... where did your clothes go?"

Gabriella was standing over me, and as I stood; I realized... she's standing over me.

"When did you get taller?" Asks a strangely familiar voice; my own, but not from this body...

"I didn't... you got smaller." Answers the Priestess.

I peer down at myself; covering my shame first and foremost with my wings... Oh my Gods.

I had shrunk to around six-foot; prehaps exactly that. My bulky, muscular self had compressed down into a more lithe, slick; even effeminate form. My scales were still in their usual places, but had changed to a sleek, steely gray. The feathers of my wings were still that same crimson, but now were tipped with white highlights. My tail, swaying about strangely; as though alive, was no longer the pom-tipped oddity I knew, instead bearing a razor-sharp tip, with no fur of any kind. Feeling my face, it had rounded itself over; becoming closer to a certain Deity I had been walking around with for the last few weeks. Pulling at my hair, it had grown vastly in lenght, and matched my feather's highlighted tips. It's luster was otherworldy...

Turning around, I check my... other tail...

Oh... it's gotten...

"Woah, Monster. Looking... pretty cute." A blushing Ashes had appeared from behind a few trees; off further was a familiar tent, with a fire going. "So that's what you were doing in that egg."

"...Egg?"